Pandit
A Pandit ( sa, पण्डित, paṇḍit; hi, पंडित; also spelled Pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt.) is a man with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge whether it is shashtra (Holy Books) or shastra (Wea ...
Gopal Krishan Sharma (1926-2004) was an exponent of
Vichitra Veena
The ''vichitra veena'' ( sa, विचित्र वीणा) is a stick zither, a plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music. Similar to the Carnatic ''gottuvadhyam'' (chitra vina) it has no frets and is played with a slide.
The s ...
, an ancient Indian musical instrument.
Early life and Musical Training
Gopal Krishan was given initial music lessons by his father, Pandit Nand Kishore, who was himself a noted
surbahar
''Surbahar'' (; ) sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, it ...
player, a vocalist and a student of
Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. After his father's death, Gopal Krishan continued his training in music under the guidance of
Pt. Khubchand Bramchari of the Gwalior school of music. He joined All India Radio (AIR) in 1949 and later became an accomplished artist there.
Skills and Style
Gopal Krishan was a versatile musician, possessing the ability to play different instruments like
tabla
A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల ...
,
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
, and a folk instrument called the
ektara
Ektara ( bn, একতারা, hi, एकतारा, ur, اِک تارا, ne, एकतारे, pa, ਇਕ ਤਾਰਾ, ta, எக்டரா; literally 'one-string', also called actara, iktar, ektar, yaktaro, gopichand, gopichant, ...
. In addition to his musical skill, Gopal Krishan was also a good vocalist. Gopal Krishan was adept at playing
raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...
s in pure forms and skilled with the
dhrupad
Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent. It is the oldest known style of major vocal styles associated with Hindustani classical music, Haveli Sangeet of Pushtimarg Sampraday and also related to the South Ind ...
style,
aalap
The Alap (; ) is the opening section of a typical North Indian classical performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga. In dhrupad singing the alap is unmetered, improvised (within the raga) and unaccompan ...
, jod and
jhala
Jhala (Hindi: झाला, ) is a term in Hindustani classical music which denotes the fast-paced conclusions of classical compositions or raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisatio ...
.
His compositions were unique as for the
Dhamar as well as the other rhythmic patterns. His jhala playing was a myriad of various patterns of rhythm and mix of strokes of mizrab. This often led to the crescendo which produced a trance like climax before concluding his recital.
He created many new ragas, the most prominent of which being Shiv Onkar, Tilak Malhar and Saraswati Sarang. He composed many orchestra compositions for
akashwani, including taar nritya.
Teaching style and students
Gopal Krishnan was known to be a strict guru. His lessons to his disciples were often focused on ensuring the purity of a raga and melodious patterns of rhythm.
His disciples are well known artists. His prominent disciples are— Pandit Shri krishan Sharma (Son, Vichitra Veena & Guitar), Shri Murli Krishan (Sitar), Smt Anubha Banerjee (Sitar), Sh. Rajan Swaroop Rajan (Vocal), Durjoy (vocal), Smriti Madan (sitar), Shruti Kalra (sitar), Smriti Minocha (Vocal), Sh. Umakant Saxena (guitar), Vinay Jain (guitar), Rakesh Jhori (guitar), Sh. Jugal Kishore Jain (jaltarang), Sh. Narendra Lahad (sarod),Pandit Nishindra Kinjalk (Sitar & Surbahar), and Sh. M.C.Gotan (violin).
Gianni Richizzi (Vichitra Veena), Anurag Swarup (Vichitra Veena), Vinay Jain, Ronald Simpson, Doug Bartel and Umesh Chandra are other prominent disciples.
Awards
He was given the Sangeet Natak Academy Award by the Honourable President of India, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma in the year 1994. He was also conferred the coveted Lichhavi Sangeet Sammaan in 2000.
See also
*
Shrikrishan Sharma
Pandit Shri krishan Sharma is an Indian musician. He hails from a family of musicians. His initial training in music came from the "Guru Shishya Parampara" from his father, Pandit Gopal Krishan Sharma the foremost Vichitra Veena maestro.
He h ...
References
1926 births
2004 deaths
Hindustani instrumentalists
Vichitra veena players
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
20th-century Indian male classical singers
Indian conductors (music)
All India Radio people
20th-century conductors (music)
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